Background

Geography Situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra and ensconced in the rain shadow area of the Sahyadri Range, the average annual rainfall in the district is 579 mm, though this is both erratic and uneven [Government of Maharashtra 1991]. Out of the total geographical area of the village which is 976.84 hectares, 795.23 hectares is cultivable. Demography The population of Hiware Bazar in 2001 was 1,150. The population is relatively homogeneous in terms of caste, an important factor in facilitating collective action. As in other regions of western Maharashtra, Marathas constitute the dominant caste (185 out of the 205 households). Economy Hiware Bazar is now reaping economic harvests of water conservation. Grass production has gone up from 100 metric tonnes in 2000 to 1000 metric tonnes in 2004. This has resulted in increased milk production from mere 150 litres per day during mid-1990s to 2200 litres per day now. The number of wells has increased from 97 to 217. The land under irrigation has lone up from 120 ha in 1999 to 260 ha in 2006. Each village resident earns almost double of most of the country’s rural population. In the last 15 years the average income has gone up by 20 times. According to recent press coverage, there are 54 millionaires in this village. Resources Natural resources in this rain shadow area are scarce apart from the shrubbery and a few trees which are native to this area. (Need more info on flaura, fauna and other resources)

Posted in: Development Schemes

Human population control is the practice of artificially altering the rate of growth of a human population.Historically, human population control has been implemented by limiting the population's birth rate, usually by government mandate, and has been undertaken as a response to factors including high or increasing levels of poverty, environmental concerns, religious reasons, and overpopulation. While population control can involve measures that improve people's lives by giving them greater control of their reproduction, some programs have exposed them to exploitation.

Women’s Welfare

Posted in: Development Schemes

Women have been successfully incorporated into the fold of the Adarsh Gram Yojana through the formation of Women’s Welfare Groups and Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Rural Sanitation ProgrammePosted in: Development Schemes

A comprehensive Rural Sanitation Programme was implemented with financial support from the Zila Parishad of Ahmednagar. The construction of 170 Latrines was completed; the number will soon be increased to 190 since 20 are presently under construction.

Watershed Development ProgrammePosted in: Development Schemes

A Watershed Development Programme is essentially designed to increase the moisture content in the soil, thereby leading to an increase in productivity. The Watershed Development Programme at Hiware Bazar, as a part of the larger Adarsh Gram Yojana, has been implemented by the Yashwant Watershed Development Trust. The main focus was on the creation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) constituting Continuous Contour Trenches and Earthen Bunds (CCT). The construction of CCTs and Bunds has been completed by the villagers themselves through the process shramdana. The fruition of the watershed development programme has aided immensely in agriculture and in providing drinking water. It has also been instrumental in the conservation of both water and soil. Impact : water balance sheet, from scarce to surplus

Rise in water level (70-80 ft. to 20-25 ft.) Change in cropping pattern (Jawar & Bajara to Onion, Potato, Horticulture ) Increase in cropping intensity Increase in fodder availability(from 1500 mt. to 6000 mt. ) Increase in milk production(from 300 lit. to 3000 lit./ day)

Drought Prone Area ProgrammePosted in: Development Schemes

The Drought Prone Area Program is to be implemented in the villages surrounding Hiware Bazar, taking the latter as a model for the development of EGS and CCTs. These villages are Jakhangaon, Nimgaon Wagha, Nimgaon Ghana, Chass, Kamargaon, Bhorwadi, Akolner, Bhoyre pathar etc. A sum total of 4000 Ha. would be treated for development in order to assure water supply to 1500 Ha. In 8 villages so as to bring the entire area under cultivation, the Yashwant Watershed Development Trust has completed following soil and water conservation treatments.

C.C.T. 57.42 Ha.

Earthen Nala Bund 24 Nos.

Cement Nala Bund 11 Nos.

The Village

From Unknown to Ideal:

Present : After development

The present situation in Hiware Bazar is one of socio – economic equality and prosperity. The village’s journey from unknown to ideal, perpetuated by Popatrao Baguji Pawar has been long and eventful one. A five pronged approach, the panchsutri has been adopted for sustainable development of the socio – economic infrastructure of the village. It includes:

1. Free Labour (Shramdan)2. Ban on Grazing (Charaibandi)3. Ban on Tree cutting (Kurhad Bandi)4. Ban on Liquor (Nasha Bandi)5. Family Planning (Kutumb Niyojan)

Shramdan has aided immensely in inculcating work culture among the populace in creating and maintaining assets. Due to the participation of local people, Hiware Bazar has become a model for other villages in the realm of community development. Ban on Grazing increased production of grasses from 200 tonnes in 1994-95 to more than 5000-6000 tonnes in 2001-2002. Ban on felling trees has led to a steady increase in the quantity of trees which now number 9 lakh. Ban on Liquor has increased the efficiency of manpower and has led to the complete eradication of criminal activities. Due to the Family Planning Programme (One Family One Child), the birth rate has been brought down to 11 per thousand. The Hiware Bazar Gram Sabha, convened on 15th August 1994, instituted the “Yashwant Krishi Gram and Watershed Development Trust” for implementing watershed development and integrating it with the programmes and activities of the Adarsh Gram Yojana. The Adarsh Gram Yojana, which was announced by the government of Maharashtra on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the state aimed at fostering sustainable development based on the following premises:

Ensuring full employability Developing the sectors of Health and Education Imposing a total ban on the usage of bore wells for irrigation Imposing a selective ban on water intensive cultivation, which was only to be employed for the

cultivation of banana and sugarcane. Imposing a total ban on the sale of land to outsiders.

From 1995 – 2005, the efforts of the leadership have been directed towards water conservation which includes both renewing the groundwater and creating a surface storage system. Since 2004, Hiware Bazar has been conducting an annual water audit, measuring the total availability of water. The implementation of these developmental programmes has to a large extent arrested the migration of the villagers and inculcated a sense of pride within them. As a result, 32 families have re – migrated from urban areas to Hiware Bazar due to the availability of basic amenities like Health, Education, Water and Employment. Consequentially, the process of Social integration has led to formation of welfare groups such as Women’s’ Thrift Groups, Women’s Milk Dairy Society, Bhajani Mandal, Youth Clubs, Common Crematorium facility, Common Drinking Water Source and numerous other co – operatives.

Development

Future : A model for other villages

3S’ – Self – sustainability, Self – governance and Self – reliance. Hiware Bazar, after successfully implementing the Adarsh Gram Yojana, has become a model for other villages in terms of sustainable development, optimum use of natural resources and community participation. This accomplishment of this impossible feat has earned it the title of an ‘ideal village’. Hiware Bazar has become a force to reckon with both nationally and internationally, a fact that is attested by the visit of both national and international dignitaries and the numerous awards/hounours presented to it/ bestowed/conferred upon it.

Hiware Bazar

The Visionary

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”-John Quincy Adams

Popatrao Baguji Pawar –An ordinary man with extraordinary determination

Mr. Popatrao Pawar ,Sarpanch / President, Hiware Bazaar

A messiah of the people of Hiware Bazar, Popatrao Bajugi Pawar traversed a long and checkered path in making his village an ‘Adarsh gaon’, a unique model based on the twin principles of self governance and self reliance.

Popatrao Baguji Pawar left Hiware Bazar as a teenager to pursue higher education in the city of Ahmadnagar. He completed his Masters’ degree in Commerce from the New Arts and Science College, Ahmednagar University. Apart from academics, he also dabbled in many extra – curricular activities. He was an avid sportsman and participated in both state national level Cricket tournaments.

Inspired greatly by the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Jayprakash Narayan, Anna Hazare, Vinoba Bhave and Baba Amte, he was driven by a deep desire to save his village from desolation and isolation. He returned to his village on the insistence of his friends and family members where he embarked upon a comprehensive development program.

Thus begun the journey of this young determined leader who worked tirelessly for the prosperity of his village.

He was elected unanimously as sarpanch of the village panchayat in 1990, following which he convened a gram sabha which had been conspicuous by its absence for many years. Key issues were identified and prevalent socio – economic problems were addressed in this annual village panchayat meeting. He was instrumental in the formation of the Yashwant Agriculture and Water Deployment Trust and in its integration with the state level developmental program, the Adarsh Gram Yojana (AGY).

Since then, there has been no looking back for this dynamic and suave leader whose has to a phenomenal extent fulfilled the dreams and aspirations of his people. Today, he is a role model for all the panchayat leaders of the state of Maharashtra. He is also associated with important national and state level committees: he is the Chairman of the Samrudh Goan Sakalpa va Prakalp Samiti (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member of the Employment Guarantee Punarvilokan Committee, (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member of the Information Rights Board, Nashik region, a member of the Watershed Committee (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member of the Watershed Executive Committee (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member, EGS Committee (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member of the Planning Commission (Govt. of Maharashtra), a member of the Jalswarajya project, Maharashtra state, a member of the NSS Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra, a member of CAPART, Govt. of India, an Expert Guide, Rural Development Committee, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. (put these in bullet points if u like)

He has won numerous honours and awards like the Ideal Village & Best leader Award-1998, Sahyadri Bhushan Award-2001, Comrade Sahane Master Award-2002, Adarsh Sarpanch State level Award-2002 , Maharashtra Foundation Award (America)-2004 , Mahavir & Mahatma Award-2005 and Phule-Ambedkar Award-2005, to name a few.

Awards

1. Ideal Village & Best leader Award-1998, (State level, Govt. of Maharashtra.)2. National Productivity Award-1998 (For Bringing the waste Land under production, Govt of India.)3. Vanshri Award-1998-99. (State level, Govt. of Maharashtra.)4. Dainik Lokmat Award-19995. Sahyadri Bhushan Award-2001 (For Best performance in Environment & social field.)6. Comrade Sahane Master Award-2002 (For Best performance in Environment & social field.)7. Adarsh (ideal) Sarpanch State level Award-2002 (R.R. Aba Pratishtan, Sangali.)8. Vasantrao Naik Watershed Award-2002. (For Best performance in Watershed Development

field)9. Maharashtra Foundation Award (America)-2004 (For Best performance in Social work)10. Maharashtra Jal-Bhumi Award-2004-05. (State level first – Govt. of Maharashtra)11. Mahavir & Mahatma Award-2005 (From Maharashtra Jain Organisation)12. Phule-Ambedkar Award-2005.13. Jijau Award-200514. Dalit Mitra Award- 2006-07. (State level, Govt. of Maharashtra.)15. Saint Gadge Baba Gram Swachhata Abhiyan – 2006-07. (State level first – Govt. of Maharashtra)16. National Water Award-2007 (National level first- For Best performance in Watershed

Development & Water Harvesting, Govt of India.)17. Sant Tukaram Vangram Award-2007 (State level first For Best performance in Forestation,

Govt.of Maharashtra.)18. Krushiratna Award- 2007 (State level first – for best work in Agriculture Development19. Abasaheb Nimbalkar Award-2008 (State level -Ahmednagar District Co-Operative Bank )20. Mahatma Phule Water & Land conservation Award- 2008. (State level first – Govt. of

Maharashtra)

Awards

Education

During the 1990s, the need to revamp the only primary school at Hiware Bazar was based on the premise that:

One educated man can change                  :                                       A HomeOne educated Home can change               :                                      A VillageAnd one educated village can change    :                                     EVERYTHING

The Primary school converted to a high school and since then the literacy  rate has soared from a mere 30% to 95%.

The people of Hiware Bazar are extremely motivated and passionate about educating their children, so much so that 18 people donated their land for extending the school  ground & building. The superior infrastructural abilities of this school has made it a model for all other schools in the Ahmednagar District.

The Panchayat